The Motorettes

Interview by: Jon

The Motorettes are an anomaly. They are a “cover” band that can mix, mingle, and kick the crap out of “regular” bands (i.e. “bands that write their own music and take themselves oh so seriously). The Motorettes specialize in Motown and 60’s soul music…therefore managing to appeal to everyone with a radio. I’ve seen them three times and they always kill!
We sat down with Jen, one of the front ladies for the band, to see how they gets things done…

TF: How long have The Motorettes been playing out and how did they get together?

Jen: Kathleen and I lived together for a few months and used to nerd out over old Motown songs together in the car or living room- she’d sing the high parts and I’d take the lows or vice versa, just messin’ around-we both grew up with the music so we already knew every harmony and every word to any song you can think of. My dad played sax in a soul band called Terry and the Uptights in the 50’s and they opened up for a few big names like James Brown, and Kathleen’s dad was in a very similar band playing around the same time. I strongly believe if you have musicians for parents you’re doomed to become one yourself. Anyway, we knew Aran, Jd and Pat would be into the idea (we were all probably in each other’s previous bands at one time or another) so from the first time we got together and practiced, we sounded great and everything just fell into place.

TF:What are some of the other bands your members are/were involved with?

Jen: God, there’s been too many to list but I’ll try… Pat’s has been in and or is currently involved with The Beatnik Termites and The Pro-Teens and runs the label Insubordination Records. Aran was in The Poisonaires and is currently in a totally awesome hip-hop duo called AK Slaughter. Kathleen’s main band is Thee Lexington Arrows but she’s played for countless other bands around town, Andy was in Malt Liquor, JD is currently in Entertainment system, Survivors of Camp Crystal Lake and Rare Candy and was involved in the greatest punk rock joke band to ever exist- Thee Shittens-with yours truly. And I’ve also been involved in more crappy high-school sounding bands than I’m far too embarrassed to even admit.

TF: The band is six members strong; do you find it hard to play some of the smaller sized venues in the city? Do you have to adjust your set or instrumentation to suit the venue?

Jen: Luckily, JD plays on this crazy small drum kit called a “Rhythm Traveler”. It looks like he stole it from an eight-year old- its hilarious. We thought it especially awesome because hes such a big guy and he plays drums like a beast, so the smaller sound evens him out perfectly, its small-stage-friendly, and he looks ridiculous playing it. Plus, I think we all like each other enough at this point to rub elbows a little up there if we gotta.

TF: Unlike most cover bands, The Motorettes play a lot of gigs around Baltimore generally reserved for bands that write originals, making you the Baltimore version of The Detroit Cobras which is great company, but does anyone ever give you shit for it?

Jen: Y’know, I’m kinda surprised but we really don’t get any shit at all for it. I think that people are generally so stoked to hear any of these songs live again that we rarely get any negative words at all. I think it strikes a heart chord with younger people even in the punk or rock scene because they also grew up on Motown and have the same appreciation for it.

TF: Have you found that you are based in a certain “scene” in Baltimore, or do you play wherever, whenever with whomever?

Jen: We are whores. We’ll play anything. We love being the curveball in a rock ‘n roll set and we don’t say no to playing a paying wedding gig either.

TF: Have you played a Bar Mitzvah yet?

Jen: Hah, we were supposed to. We even started learning Hava Nagila. The kid ended up going with a DJ in the end. I guess the parents were probably the ones pushing for Motown anyway.

TF: All of you are (or have been) members of other local bands over the years, and wrote tons of music I’m sure. Now that you are covering some of the greatest music ever written do you find yourselves writing anything and inserting it into your sets…just to see if anyone notices?

Jen: You never know…

TF: Do you ever indulge the “Play Freebird!” guy?

Jen: Fuck that guy. Bands that pander to that guy always end up looking like total dicks anyway because no one can play freebird like Skynyrd.


TF: Do you ever get a “Play Stop In The Name Of Love!” guy?

Jen: We play Happy Hour at the Sidebar every second Friday of the month, and if you know anything about the Sidebar you know that before it become a punk bar at 8pm, it’s a hang out for all the local state’s attorneys. Those guys are amazing- they sing every word, dance and get shit-faced by seven. They usually like to yell out a few requests but we’re happy to play ‘em if we got ‘em. Yeah, we’re a real hit with the drunk lawyers.

TF: What’s been your favorite show moment thus far?

Jen: We just played with one of Kathleen’s and my all time favorite bands, The Dirtbombs. It was a fucking great show- we got to open up for them and also play with another great local rock duo, The Expotentials. We killed it that night and Mick Collins (lead singer of the Dirtbombs and countless other amazing rock bands) personally thanked us on stage.

TF: I noticed you have a few recordings on Myspace. Have The Motorettes ever considered recording a proper record?

Jen: We have an EP out right now that we mostly use for press kits and promotion- I mean, if the demand goes up for a full album of our covers, I think we’d definitely consider it. I think that if we ever do write originals we’d be in the studio in a heartbeat.

TF: Who are some of the other local bands you would recommend?

Jen: Sooo many. I’m so proud of local music right now. Obviously all our other bands. Let’s see…The Mishaps, The Expotentials, The Hall Monitors, The Ambitions, Payola Reserve, Lazlo Lee & The Motherless Children, The Garnet Hearts, The Sick Sick Birds, Ratsize, Hollywood, The Squaaks and soo soo many more. Don’t take my word for it, go see their shows! Also, dance around a little. Enjoy yourself. I’m so sick of the kids that pay to get into a show and then act like they don’t wanna be there.

TF: You are also the owner of Patterson Perk Coffee Shop and co-founder of Catfight! Photography. Is it hard juggling all the ventures at once?

Jen: Holy shit…hard is an understatement. I should be committed for actually thinking that I could do all this and still have a social life. Although, I must admit, there’s nothing better than working for yourself and saying “fuck you!” to The Man on a daily basis. I just never though being so punk would involve this much fucking work.

TF: What’s up next for The Motorettes?

Jen: We are super busy. We’ve got weddings and private parties booked (horray for catering and open bar) and we’re booking more shows around town and on the East Coast. And we’re gonna keep doing the Happy Hour thing at the Sidebar until we wear out our welcome. So, plenty of opportunities for people to come out, have a drink and get down with the Motown Sound.